First, I'd like to thank all of you lovely readers for your support and comments. This fic has been quite the emotional rollercoaster to write and for you to read. I so appreciate you guys hanging with me through this.

Second, I know that things have been very angsty lately and I'm afraid that this update is no different, but despite popular belief there is a reason for it. No, I am not trying to wring every last drop of angst out of this nor am I trying to drive my fave BMWW fandom crazy or to cause you all to break down in tears.

I personally think it would be unrealistic for Bruce and Diana to come back from the hell they just endured and be alright with it, jumping into each other's arms and into bed to make it all better. We all know that Bruce copes by brooding and cutting off contact with everyone and I picture Diana putting up a strong front for everyone while silently trying to deal with it.

I promise, cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye that the next update will be the Bruce/Diana reunion/fix that we've all been waiting for and that I've dying to write. I will more than make up for this in every way possible. Besides, we still have a wedding and honeymoon to get to, right?

MANY BIG THANKS to Dinasis for encouraging me to post this angsty update even though he has no idea what I wrote. If you guys hate it, blame him for telling me to post it. I will warn you the first part is a little gruesome, but not more so than what you've already read.

Hope you enjoy. You guys are the best! :)

Chapter 23

He barely noticed the way the wind pulled hard at his cape, causing it to whip wildly behind him as he crouched on top of a building. He ignored the rain that fell, trickling down his cowled face in tiny rivulets and dripping from his angular jaw as he scanned the area. He could feel his desperation expanding with every beat of his heat, pulsating through his veins like a living thing, but he tamped down on it, knowing that it would do little to help her.

Shooting his grappling gun at a nearby building, he tried to remind himself that she'd only been missing for thirty-six hours, but it did little to provide any relief to the sick sense of dread that continually roiled inside of him. Thirty-six hours was an eternity of pure hell in the presence of a demented monster like the Joker.

There was no predicting what that lunatic was doing to her at that very moment, what horrors she was being subjected to. He could feel the heat of his fury running waves beneath his skin, sweat beginning to slowly trickle down his spine despite the temperature control in his suit. It could do little to help temper the rage boiling within. Nothing but getting her back safely could possibly assuage it now.

He landed lightly on the balls of his feet as his boots touched down on the decaying asphalt of the long-forgotten amusement park. The only sound was the pounding of the cold rain against the abandoned rides, buildings and carnival games left behind to perish at the hands of the elements, leaving a perfect playground for someone as twisted as the Joker.

He held no doubt about the Joker holding Diana hostage here, could feel it deep in his bones. She was here….she was close. He had ultimately tracked her to this abandoned amusement park, knowing all along it was nothing but a trap meant for him.

Diana had been the bait, he the prey. Saving her was the only acceptable conclusion to Joker's game.

He silently slipped through the darkness like a deadly wraith, walking through the opening to the maze of mirrors that was a clown's open mouth. "How appropriate," he thought darkly to himself.

The moment he stepped inside, Batman was immediately greeted by the loud cackle of none other than his arch nemesis himself. It caused the fine hairs to prickle on the back of his neck as he stealthily worked his way through the maze; fearful of what he would find when he got to the end.

His cape draped dramatically around him, the scalloped tips softly brushing across the floor. It helped to further shroud him in darkness just the way he preferred it. Joker knew that he was here, but there was no point in making it any easier for the clown to find him. He fought the overwhelming compulsion to blow a hole in the wall in order to find Diana quicker as he turned down another hallway lined with mirrors, but he knew it could only put her in more danger than she was already in.

Another hysterical cackle filtered through the sound system, followed by loud carnival music. It rang in his ears, causing his heart to beat a little harder, a little faster as he lengthened his stride. She was in this life-and-death situation because of him and he would be the one to get her out of it.

Falling in love with her had been the most extraordinary thing that had ever happened to him…and the same time one of the worst. It was his fault for allowing her into his life…his dark gritty world that corrupted and tainted and destroyed everything good and pure.

He had known all along that it was far too dangerous and yet he had allowed his feelings to progress, finally giving into temptation and lustful desire all because he had deluded himself into believing he could have the life that he had always wanted with her.

Now, he was losing it all—the dream, his life, his love.

"Baaat—maaan," the Joker's sing-song voice came over the overhead speakers, interrupting his thoughts. "I have something that you want. I'd let her say hello, but she's a little busy right now."

Batman ignored him as he continued to work his way deeper through the maze, tendrils of fear for Diana wrapping around his heart and tightening with every step he took. There wasn't much that could ever make him feel quite this way. In fact, he rarely ever had to do battle with such intense emotions, at least not until she had appeared in his life like a radiant angel.

Finding something on the floor, he paused to pick it up, realizing it was Diana's tiara. His insides coiled tightly as he secured it to his utility belt. He wiped away the sweat that had beaded on his mouth and chin as he spotted one of her red boots propped up against a mirror further down the hall.

Turning to the right, his fingers curled into the palms of his hands as he found himself at an impasse, a large smiley face drawn in blood on the mirror staring back at him. With a fierce growl, he turned on his heel, retreating down another hallway. He carefully crept through the maze, struggling to block out the thoughts that were threatening to take his legs out from under him.

Coming to another crossroads, Batman looked first to his left and then to his right, spotting her other red boot. He moved past it, walking faster as he tried to pay no heed to the fear that now had a choke hold on him. He had always been able to keep his emotions in check no matter the circumstances surrounding him, but not this time. Not with her.

The irresistible desire to beat the very life out of Joker began to take over his mind, his growing fury breathing even more life into the notion as he discovered Diana's golden breastplate tossed carelessly aside on the floor as if it meant nothing…she meant nothing.

He held it protectively in his hands as if it was her, silently willing her to hang on until he could get to her. It was difficult not to notice the bright red blood to that streaked it. His head pounded mercilessly with the violent storm of emotions raging within his soul at that moment as he stared at the golden symbol of the Champion of the Gods.

Turning down another mirrored corridor, Batman found himself at impasse once again, his rage erupting like a damn finally breaking free and threatening to erase every last shred of logic. Reaching into his belt, he withdrew a bat bomb, hurling it at the mirror before turning and shielding himself with his cape against the shower of small reflective shards.

"Aw, Batsy!" the Joker whined over the sound system like a petulant child. "You're spoiling my fun! I had more pieces of your Amazon Princess for you to find."

Batman swiftly stepped through the large hole he'd created, finding a long dark corridor. At the very end to the right was a closed door, a thin beam of light escaping beneath the bottom of it. He ran towards it, near frantic to find her and frightened of the state he'd find her in.

Without a second thought, he kicked the door down with a loud crack like thunder, taking it clean off its hinges. Racing inside, he came to an abrupt stop as his breath caught in his throat. What he found turned his blood to ice water in his veins.

Diana lay on a table as still as death itself, her expression almost peaceful…serene and showing no sign of the suffering he knew that she had once been in. Countless cuts and bruises marred her perfect body; her uniform shredded. It was scarcely keeping her covered, barely holding together just like his sanity at that moment.

Her hands were bound with her own lasso, her body tied down to a steel medical table that kept her prisoner and subjugated to the Joker's every whim. He could feel the Joker's eyes on him, boring through him and watching his every move, thoroughly enjoying every moment of the mental torture he was serving up.

The Clown Prince had known that he'd come. He always came for her. Always for her.

He instinctively began to walk towards her, feeling as if his legs were made of lead, trying to keep him from reaching her. He moved with the surreptitiousness of a vengeful shadow itself, a batarang gripped tightly in his hand hidden beneath his cape. His eyes were fixed solely on her as he silently pleaded for any signs of life from her. At the same time, he was also fully aware of everything around him, the impending attack that he knew was coming.

He came within twenty feet of her before Harley's distinctive high-pitched voice pierced the air. "That's close enough, Batsy-Watsy! No touchy!"

Ignoring her, he took a couple more steps towards her, determined to get to Diana only to have Joker appear out of nowhere at the head of the medical table with a butcher knife in his hand. He was dressed like a surgeon in the midst of an operation, blood covering his clothes.

Bruce's heart instantly leapt into his throat, his chest beginning to heave. It was the same bloody butcher knife that the Joker had used on Diana in his nightmare in the Underworld. It was happening all over again and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

He clenched his fists even tighter, feeling Harley's presence looming behind him. He had no misgivings about what was going to happen tonight, how this was going to play out. He was prepared for it, had always known it would come down to this.

Batman versus the Joker.

Good versus evil.

One the winner, the other…

"Do you like what I've done with your Amazon, Batsy?" the Joker asked with a gleeful cackle, waving his butcher knife over Diana's face, her body so motionless and offering him no hope.

"What did you do to her?" Batman snarled something fierce and dark.

"We've been having a grand time together, haven't we Wonder Babe?" Joker replied, grabbing her by the hair to lift her head off the table before running his tongue along her bloody cheek. His eyes fell closed as he savored the taste of her blood on his tongue. "Tastes as delicious as she looks, wouldn't you agree?"

Batman took an involuntary step forward, his lips curled into a violent sneer. "Let her go!" he roared.

"I guess I might as well," Joker decided with a wicked grin, releasing his grip on her hair. "She isn't much fun now that she's dead, but that doesn't mean we didn't have an orgasmic time together before you arrived."

Unable to contain the deluge of fury any longer, Batman launched himself at the Joker, knocking the butcher knife from the clown's hand with the full force of his attack. The sound of Harley cheering for the Joker became nothing but a muffled din as he pinned the lunatic to the ground, his fist connecting with his jaw with the flood of raw emotion inundating him.

He grunted with every bone-crushing slam of his gauntleted fist into the Joker's face, delighting in the sickening crunch of his bones with every strike. The Joker laughed hysterically, blood oozing from his wounds and streaking across the white make-up that covered his skin.

"You killed her!" Batman screamed as he repeatedly beat the clown that had taken the only good thing that had ever happened to him since losing his parents. "You took her away from me!"

"Stop! You're killin' him!" Harley shouted from behind him, but he ignored her as he unleashed every ounce of his anger and pain on the man who had single-handedly destroyed his life all over again.

Blood splattered onto his gloves, across his face and insignia, his chest convulsing with the full weight of his anguish. He knew deep inside that this was wrong, that he was crossing that fine line that he had sworn to never cross, but he couldn't stop himself. This monster had just stolen the only source of light from his life and he'd never get it back.

Exhaustion eventually took over, forcing him to sit back on his heels. The only sound now was that of his ragged breaths that were coming in exerted pulls. He forced himself to look down at what was left of the man that he'd just beaten, the lifeless body beneath him, the mangled face that was beyond recognition now. He held out his hands before him in stunned disbelief, finding his gauntlets soaked with blood…the Joker's blood.

He quickly got to his feet, staggering backwards in horror as he stared at the Joker's body, appalled by what he had just done. He felt his back hit the medical table, reminding himself that Diana was still there waiting for him to save her even though he was far too late. He had failed her.

He slowly turned towards her as hot tears stuck in his throat, making it difficult to catch his breath. He pulled his cowl back before removing his gauntlets, his trembling hands gently moving to cradle her face. "Princess…" he whispered, his voice cracking with his anguish. "I'm so sorry…"

Her skin was so cold beneath his touch, her blood staining his fingers as he gently caressed her cheeks. He pressed his forehead against hers as a strangled sob broke free, the full weight of his loss crashing down on him. He had failed her, failed himself by giving into the dark hatred and wrath that lived within his soul. Diana had always believed there was a good heart inside of him, but he had just proven her so wrong.

Untying her, he cradled her in his arms as he buried his face in her raven hair. The Joker had killed Diana and now he had just killed the Joker, doing the one thing he had sworn to never do. He was just as wicked and vile as the man he had murdered, no better than the demented clown who had endlessly terrorized Gotham for years.

Bruce sat bolt upright in his bed, panting hard as sweat glistened on his face and chest. He immediately looked to his left, releasing a relieved breath to find Diana sleeping next to him. He drew his legs up, resting his elbows on his knees as he held his head in his hands.

He struggled to focus his mind, to rein in fear and panic as well as the sickening images that continually plagued not only his sleep but even the moments when he was awake. He couldn't escape them no matter how hard he tried, how hard he fought to find that calming center inside of him. Nothing brought him even the smallest amount reprieve from the constant onslaught.

They had returned to Gotham five days ago, seven days since being released from the Underworld, and he still couldn't get a grip on his emotions or come to terms with the traumatic events that he'd been forced to participate in.

Even now, they haunted him day and night, no matter what he tried to do. He had hoped that throwing himself back into his life as Bruce Wayne by day and Batman by night would help, but it had done little to ease the torrential storm that had taken up residence in his soul. Not even cleaning up the scum in Gotham had helped to alleviate any of the tension that had invaded every fiber of his being or siphoned off any of the anger that constantly consumed him.

He had been stripped of the one thing that he had always prided himself on, always demanded of himself – absolute control. Hades had taken it from him while he'd been in the Underworld, forcing him to play a part in his demented game. He had manipulated him, threatened his life, played upon his worst fears and twisted his mind with impossible choices.

He had been stretched to the very limits of his sanity and now he had to find a way to get that control back.

Rubbing his face with his hands, Bruce glanced at Diana once more, the painful ache that lived in his chest since this had first began deepening as he watched her sleep. Neither of them had shared anything about what they had experienced down there while separated from one another.

Conversation had been superficial and casual at best since returning, barely scratching the surface of any resemblance of intimacy between them. It was as if talking about what had happened to them might make it even more real than it had already been, giving it credence when it didn't deserve any.

He didn't want to relive what he'd endured down there and yet he was reliving it every single night when he closed his eyes, every time he looked at her. It was only serving to inflame his fears, adding to his belief that he could lose control at any moment, taking a life if anything ever happened to her again.

Watching her now as she slept, his gaze slowly roamed over her back, traced the curve of her smooth shoulder, following down the length of her arm. He noticed the tousled look of her raven hair that sleep had created, wishing that he had been the reason for it.

He hungered for the intense passion behind her touch, for the softness of her skin beneath his fingers and mouth. He longed to feel himself fully immersed deep within her, connecting with her and moving with her as one in that erotic dance that always drove him to heights that only she alone had ever been able to take him to.

He missed her more now than ever before, even more so than when they had been separated from one another. She was inches away from him now and yet it felt like they were miles apart, sharing the same house…the same bed, but practically leading separate lives now.

Studying her back, he was more than relieved that her wounds were almost fully healed. The bruises had faded, the gashes on her back finally knitting together once more. It would be one less reminder of what had happened to her. His own injuries were taking longer to heal, but he could thankfully breathe and move now with minimal discomfort.

Knowing that he wouldn't be able to get any more sleep now, Bruce threw back the sheets with a sigh of resignation, getting up and silently leaving the bedroom they shared. He was unaware that Diana had been woken by his nightmare, by the frantic sound of him calling out her name.

Diana felt apprehension flash through her like a streak of lightning as he softly closed the door behind him, causing her to release a ragged gasp in an effort to catch her breath. She tightened her grip on the sheets, her fingers curling into the silk as she fought against the swelling desperation to follow him.

She was an Amazon, trained to be a fierce warrior. She had come to Man's World as the Champion of the Gods to do battle with evil and spread her message of peace and yet she couldn't begin to win the battle being waged between her heart and mind.

Every time he left her, it felt as though she was being plunged under icy water, unable to draw air or scream for help, unable to reach out to him to help him. It was like being back in the Underworld all over again, lost in the nightmare of seeing Bruce with Selina or fearing that she'd lose him forever.

She ached to feel his arms around her, the soothing baritone of his voice letting her know that he still loved her, still wanted her. She craved the feel of his warm lips caressing her skin, the way he always set her entire body on fire.

Their wedding had been postponed indefinitely, no new date even discussed yet. Now, she was beginning to wonder if there was ever going to be a wedding. She had given up her immortality for him, for them to have a chance to have a baby together and yet he wouldn't touch her, could hardly look at her.

She angrily wiped away the tears that streaked her cheeks, furious with herself for not comforting him when he had obviously needed her. Though he didn't talk about it, she knew he was fighting to come to terms with what had happened to him and she had no idea how to help him. It was because of her that he'd suffered so much. To try and comfort him now just seemed so hypocritical of her somehow.

Diana sat up, looking over at the empty spot in their bed where Bruce had just been. She missed him so much it hurt, each breath she drew somehow accentuating that pain. Their physical wounds had almost fully healed, but she feared the emotional ones might never.

She fought the desire to go downstairs to find him, knowing that he was probably down in his cave burying himself in cases he was working on. It was all that he ever did now since returning from Themyscira, spending every spare minute down in the Batcave at that damn computer of his.

She had gone down there once to try to talk to him, but he had dismissed her with a forced smile and a pat answer of "I'm fine, Diana". He longer even called her Princess, just Diana now. Since that incident in the cave, she had given up, letting him brood and hoping that he would come back to her in time.

She had been doing her best to hold herself together for his sake, not wanting him to worry about her when he was hurting so deeply right now. He was no doubt wrestling with demons that had been resurrected in the depths of the Underworld, given new life thanks to Hades' interference.

She needed to focus on him, making sure that she didn't lose him to the dark void that she had pulled him from before. He was all that mattered to her, her own struggles trivial in light of what he was obviously going through.

Lying down again, she sent up silent prayers to Hera, beseeching her for the strength to help him, to save the man who had captured her heart and risked everything in the Underworld just for her.

XXX

"I guess if no one has anything else, the meeting is adjourned," Superman announced, looking up in time to see Batman's black cape whipping behind him as he swiftly exited the conference room.

Hawkgirl, Flash, and Green Lantern started talking about some show that Wally and Shayera had seen on television last night as they began to make their way out, J'onn phasing through the floor for monitor duty. Superman glanced at Diana with growing concern, noticing the look of panic that flitted through her blue eyes as she remained frozen in her seat, staring at the chair that Bruce had just vacated before he'd even had a chance to finish his sentence.

It was more than apparent that neither Bruce nor Diana was managing very well with whatever it was that Hades had put them through. The strain between them was thick, nearly suffocating whenever they were in the same room together.

Clark could hear the fierce pounding of her heart as he drew nearer, her struggle to regain control of her breathing. He had been worried about both of them ever since their return, wishing that they would take some time off from the League to recover, but they had insisted on returning to duty as soon as possible.

He could tell they were trying to run away from the things they had seen and experienced, doing their best to throw themselves into their responsibilities in order to escape. The only problem was that they were also trying to escape from each other.

"Diana, are you alright?" Clark softly asked, his hand coming to rest gently on her forearm as he sat down on the edge of the table.

Diana jumped to her feet with his unexpected touch, whirling on him with a mixture of anger and terror in her eyes. She was breathing hard, her body near trembling and her fists raised as if prepared to do battle. "What?" she asked before quickly averting her eyes in embarrassment when she realized it was Clark. "I'm sorry, Kal. I guess I was just lost in my thoughts."

Superman drew a deep breath, his brow furrowing with the weight of the concern he'd been carrying for them since their return nearly a week ago. "Are you sure you're ready to come back to the League, Di? No one would ever think less of you for needing to take some time off."

"No, I'm fine…really," she dismissed him with a wave of her hand before running her fingers back through her hair as she turned to leave him sitting there. "I need to go. I have reports that need to be filed. You know how Bruce is if they're late. I'll see you later."

Superman hastily chased after her, catching her in the corridor before she got too far. He was not about to let her go this time. She'd been blowing him off for the last few days since returning to Gotham, telling him that she was fine when she was clearly far from it.

"Di, you know I'm here for you if you ever need someone to talk to about what happened."

"I know," she replied with a tight smile, quickening her pace in an effort to escape. "I'm just a little tired. I'll catch up with you later."

Superman came to a stop as he watched her fly down the hall, avoiding talking to him. Something was definitely wrong with her though she tried to hide it and he knew that Bruce wasn't fairing much better. He was back to his bleak, brooding self again, brusque and all-business without the slightest hint of the happiness or warmth that Diana had brought to his life.

"Superman to J'onn."

"Yes, Superman. What can I do for you?"

"Can you give me Batman's location?"

"He is currently in the Javelin Bay."

"Thanks, J'onn."

"Please offer my assistance to both him and Diana if they wish to talk," the Martian Manhunter told him, both knowing what he meant.

"I will, but you know how Batman is, J'onn," he replied with a sigh. "Superman out."

Making his way to the Javelin Bay, Superman steeled himself for the battle that awaited him, but it was one that he knew needed to be waged. Bruce and Diana were his two best friends. It was beyond maddening being forced to stand by and watch them struggle with what happened to them in the Underworld, how it was slowly tearing them apart and destroying what they had together.

He just hoped he could help Bruce see the necessity of dealing with this now before it was too late.

Entering the Javelin Bay, Clark spotted Batman standing with a tablet in hand, assessing the Javelins for necessary repairs. He noticed how Batman immediately stiffened, his back rigid with Superman's presence. He didn't wait for his friend to approach; moving to the other side of one of the Javelin's to continue his assessment.

"Batman, I—"

"Don't start, Clark. I'm fine," Batman interrupted with a curt response. "I don't want to talk about it and if I ever decide I do, it won't be you I run to."

Superman folded his arms over his muscular chest, not the least bit daunted by the Dark Knight's biting retort. He'd survived far icier responses from his best friend and lived to tell about it. "Even though I think you are in desperate need of talking about what happened to you, I'm not here to talk about you."

"What do you want?"

"It's about Diana," he revealed, studying his friend intently for his reaction.

Batman paused for less than a heartbeat, casting a fleeting glance at the Man of Steel. "What about her?" he warily asked.

His tone was slightly less acerbic, but only slightly, giving Superman even more willpower to press on. "I don't know what happened to either of you while you were down there and I know you don't want to talk about it, but she's not handling it very well, Bruce. Something is very wrong with her."

"She's fine," Bruce bluntly stated, turning his back to him as thoughts of Diana swirled in his mind.

She was never far from his thoughts. Ever since returning, though, she'd been constantly consuming them as he struggled to reconcile what he had gone through or how he had let her and his parents down. Unfortunately, the guilt and sense of failure had been too crushing to swallow.

"No, she is not, Bruce, and neither are you for that matter," Clark angrily bit out, taking a step closer to him and fighting back the urge to rip that damned tablet out of Bruce's hands and beat him with it. "She's putting up a good front, but she is not coping well. You just can't see it because you're too busy trying to run away from your own demons."

Batman clenched his jaw tightly; fighting back the sudden surge of worry that rose up within him. Deep down, he knew that Clark was right, but he hadn't wanted to see it or face it. Neither of them was doing very well, but he had no idea how to begin to fix it and it terrified him.

He couldn't lose her. Not again.

Clark could tell by the way Batman's shoulders slumped slightly, the tight set of his jaw that he finally had his attention. He wasn't about to let up on him now. "She's trying to be strong, acting like everything is alright for you, but she's barely holding herself together. Every time you leave the room, she nearly has a panic attack. It's all she can do to keep from falling apart when you're not near her."

Batman's chin fell to his chest as he released a long breath in an uncharacteristic show of emotion. He knew that he was going to have to face this now not only for her, but for his own sake. She deserved far better than this, more than he had given her since appearing on the beach on Themyscira.

He had treated her physical wounds, taking care of her and making sure she was safe, but he had done nothing for the mental and emotional anguish that she'd suffered. He hadn't made it any easier for her either by distancing himself from her as he tried to escape what had happened to him, the choices that he'd had to make.

There was no helping her through this now, though, without being forced to face his own fears.

Sensing the war being waged deep within Bruce, Clark drew closer, placing a tentative hand on his shoulder and knowing he might just lose it if the Batman didn't like it. "Just talk to her, Bruce. Don't let this distance between you continue to grow. Diana is the best thing that ever could've happened to you."

Batman pulled away from Clark's reassuring hand on his shoulder, turning his back to his friend. "I'll take care of it."

Superman shook his head in amazement. He shouldn't have expected a different response from him after all these years. "Be sure you do or I will."

Fury surged through Batman like an electrical current, causing him to whirl back around on his heel to face him. "And what is that supposed to mean?" Batman barked with a dark glower, the white lens of his cowl narrowing to dangerous slits.

"I love Diana too, Bruce," Superman heatedly replied. "I'm not going to just stand by and watch you crush her spirit even more than has already been done to her."

Batman closed the distance between them in two long strides, coming nose to nose with the Kryptonian. "Diana is mine," he snarled, fists clenched tightly at his sides. "I will be the one to take care of her, not you."

Superman met his glare, matching it with one of his own. "You need to do something to fix things between the two of you instead of just running away like some coward. Are you really prepared to lose her just because you're scared?"

"I am not afraid," Batman seethed, baring his teeth. "You can't begin to imagine what I went through down there just to prove how much I love her so don't act like you know—and never call me a coward again."

"No, Bruce, I can't imagine the torment that you two were forced to go through, but I do know that Diana is no longer the same person that was taken to the Underworld two weeks ago and neither are you," Clark shot back. "If you truly love her like I know you do, than stop pushing her away and help her find a way to get through this for both of your sakes."

"Diana is my whole world," Bruce rasped with a deadly fury that told Clark his friend wasn't going to take much more from him. "There is nothing I wouldn't do for her…nothing."

"Then talk to her, Bruce," Superman told him. "I know that you need her right now just as much as she needs you so stop pretending like everything is fine when it's far from it."

Before Batman could respond, Superman turned on his heel, leaving him all alone in the Javelin Bay again. Bruce abruptly turned and slammed his fist against the hull of the Javelin, rage pumping through him. He should've seen it, should have noticed that Diana needed him and yet he'd been too consumed with his own issues.

Clark had been right. He was a coward, afraid to face the fact that everything had changed, nothing the same anymore. The murder of his parents had been the very foundation of his mission, the grief and rage over their loss driving him every single night so that no one else had to go through such a painful loss like he'd had to.

Melinoë had given him the chance to have his parents back, fulfilling a lifelong dream and yet he had turned his back on them, choosing Diana over his mom and dad. Did his mission no longer carry the fierce resolve of an eight year old boy? The dedication and drive of a child who had been deprived of his parents?

His head spun wildly as he fought to make sense of it all, of the choices that he'd made and the tremendous guilt that accompanied it. His heart felt as though it had been torn in two when he'd made that decision to save Diana over having his parents back.

He wondered now if it could ever be healed...if he and Diana could ever be whole again?